Lifting and transporting apparatus



June 16, 1964 E. FISCHER 3,137,011

LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /62 .1 70 9 WKW ATTOQ/VEX coming many difficulties of prior apparatus.

United States Patent 16 Claims. (Cl. -86) This invention relates to lifting and transporting apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for lifting and transporting incapacitated persons inhospitals, homes, and into andout of automobiles and the like.

Apparatus of the general type of this invention is known, the apparatus to be described hereinafter over- It is particularly simple in design, economical to manufacture, and easily operated. Some of thenovel features include a base which is narrower in the transverse direction to per- Init passage through narrow passageways without adjustment and which, therefore, will remain stable at all times. It permits loading of a person from the side of the apparatus, the base being constructed of only three sections, with a low crossbar section permitting thepassage thereover of a portion of a wheel chair. Such a base enablesthe apparatus to be moved around bath tubs, water closets, and other stationary objects. The supporting standard construction permits the gentle raising and lowering of a person, more room for a person when supported by the standard, and is more convenient to operate.

ture which prevents any undesired reversal of the lifting arm by the weight of a person, the braking action being in proportion to the weight of theperson.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the lifting and transporting of incapacitated persons.

Another object of the invention is to. provide an improved lifting and transporting apparatus for incapacitated persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide an proved lifting and transporting apparatus which is particularly simple in construction and operation and permits greater freedom of movement of the person being lifted and transported.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide an improved base for a lifting and transporting device which can be moved through narrow passageways and which permits a wheel chair to be easily positioned within the borders of the base.

A better understanding of this invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2.2 of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

3,137,011 Patented June 16, 1964 manner in which the apparatus may be moved through narrowpassageways.

Referring, now, to the drawings in which the same numerals identify the same elements, the apparatus consists of a three-section base made up of two short tubular sections 5 and 6 and a connecting crossbar section 7, the section 7 having its ends welded to the sections 5 and 6 adjacent the ends thereof and its main central portion dropped below the plane of the sections 5 and 6, the bot: tom edge of the central portion of section 7 being approximately one-half to one inchfrom the surface over which caster wheels 9 pass. The caster wheels 9 are connected to the ends of the sections 5 and 6 and operate in the normal manner of caster wheels, one wheel of which may have a brake 8 thereon. Attached to the section 5 adjacent one end thereof is a standard shown generally at 10. This standard has a main tubular section 12 with its lower end inserted in a receptacle 13 welded to section 5 and held therein by a bolt 14 having a head 15 and. a nut 16.

In the tube 12 is a slot 19 in which a pin 20 is slidable, the pin being positioned within a boss 22 on a sleeve 23 and held therein by its threads and head, the pin being positioned in a sleeve 25 through which passes a Saginaw ballbearing screw 27. The lower end of the Saginaw screw has a stop collar 28 held in position by a set screw 29. This stop collar 28 turns with the screw to prevent excessive travel or" the nut assembly. Thus, rotation of the screw 27 will raise and lower the sleeve 25, the sleeve being prevented from rotating by the pin 20 in the slot 19 of the tube 12. Attached to the lower end of the sleeve 23 is a bracket 31!, to which is pivoted a raising brace arm '31 by a pin 32. Thus, movement of the sleeve 23 will As shown in FIG. 1, a cantilever arm 40 is integral with the yoke 34, the armAtl also being pivoted "on a bracket 41 to the raising bracket arm 31 The upper end of screw 27 is mounted in a ballbearing 33 held in position by a collar 46, set screw 39, sleeve 40, and 'set screw 49, the inner race of the bearing being in contact with a washer 42.

The screw 27 is driven by a crank arm 43 having a rotatable ball handle44 held in position by a set screw 45. The crank arm 43 is threaded onthe threaded upper end 47 of the screw 27 and held in position by a nut 48,

- the crank arm resting on a friction disc 50 which is incon- FIG. 4 is a detailedview of the sling supporting crossbar mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the brake mechanism and taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detailed View of the sling support; and FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are diagrams showing. the

tact with a mutilated brake cylinder 51.

As shown in FIG. 5, the brake cylinder is segmented, a pin 52 passing through the standard tube 12 and hav ing its end within a groove 53 in the brake cylinder. Mounted on a pin 54- on the cylinder is a pawl 55 urged outwardly by a spring 56. When the crank arm 43 is turned in'a direction to move the sleeve 23 upwardly, the entire unit comprised of brake cylinder 51, pin 54, pawl 55, and spring 56, moves with it as the pawl 55 will pass the end of the pin 52. This occurs when the unit is turned in a clockwise direction. When the crank arm 43 is turned in the reverse direction to lower a person, the end of pawl 55 will abut the pin 52, holding the cylinder 51 stationary, and the friction between the cylinder 51 andthe friction disc 50 is sufticient to permit the gentlelowering of the person. The amount of friction developed is in proportion to the weight of the person so that the person may be 1 vertical or perepndicular to the plane of the base sections 5 and 6 but is at an angle of substantially 15 degrees thereto. This angular positioning of the standard permits particularly convenient operation of the cratnk arm 43 by the ball handle 44 which is positioned away from the apparatus. It also provides more room for turning the person being raised and transported.

Referring, now, to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the sling used with the apparatus is attached to a cross arm 58 which is rotatable on a vertical pin 59 and s'wingable on a horiz'ontal pin 60 mounted in a yoke at the end of the arm 40. Thus, the person may be swung conveniently on the end of arm 40. At the ends of the cross arm 58 are adjustable chain sections 64 which hold a sling having a thigh-supporting portion 66, a back-supporting portion 67, an interconnecting portion 6? and an additional separate neck portion 68 if desired. The chain links may be colorcoded to permit the correct attachment at all times. It is noted that the sling portions 66, 67, and 69 are integral with one another so that a greater feeling of security for the person is obtained. Furthermore, it is simple to attach the neck sling 68 to the crossbar in the event that neck support is desired.

As mentioned above, the invention is provided with a transverse base; that is, the short sections 5 and 6 of the base are at, right angles to the plane of the standard 19 and the arm 40, as shown in FIG. 1, while the longer section 7 of the base is parallel with the plane of the standard 10 and arm 40. By lowering the longer section 7, it permits the footrest 70 of a wheel chair 71 to pass over the section 7 and the wheel chair to be positioned such that the attachment of the sling can be conveniently made to the crossarm 58 and the persons legs and feet will not interfere with the standard 10. When the attachment is made, the person may then be lifted and easily rotated on the cantilever arm 40 since the standard 12 is at an angle to the plane of base sections 5 and 6.

Furthermore, this base construction permits the invention to easily pass through narrow doors and passageways. As shown in FIG. 7a, the apparatus may easily pass through a passageway 74 which is as wide as the length of sections 5 and 6. If the passageway 78, such as shown in FIGS. 7b, 7c, and 7d, is narrower than the length of sections 5 and 6, the apparatus may still pass through the passageway by rotating the base as it passes therethrough, the first position being shown in 7b, the second position in 7c, and third position in 7d. The three-section base and the position of the standard 10 thereon permits this maneuvering. Thus, a stable and reliable base is provided which will pass through narrow passageways without adjustment or narrowing the base which makes it less stable. Also, being three-sided, the apparatus may be readily swung around a bathtub and water closet to correctly position a person thereover.

I claim:

1. Lifting and transporting apparatus for incapacitated persons comprising a three-section base, a single standard rising from one section of said base, a cantilever arm mounted on the upper end of said standard and adapted to have a sling attached to the other end thereof, means connecting said arm and said standard for raising and bracing said arm, and means within said standard for raising and lowering said last-mentioned means and said sling.

2. Lifting and transporting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said base has two short sections in a certain plain and a longer interconnecting section below said plane, said standard having its lower end attached to one of; said shorter sections at substantially the center thereof and at an angle to the plane of said short sections.

3. A base fora lifting and transporting device for incapicitated persons and having a supporting standard attached thereto comprising three interconnected sections, two of said sections being relatively short and substantially parallel and spaced apart in a certain plane, and a longer section interconnecting said two sections adjacent the ends thereof and having the central portion thereof positioned below said certain plane of said two sections.

4. A lifting and transporting device comprising a substantially rectangular base, said base having three sections, a single standard having one end attached to substantially the center of oneof said sections, a sleeve on said standard, said sleeve being slidable axially on said standard, a cantilever arm having one end pivoted near the other end of said standard, a lifting means between said sleeve and said arm, and means within said standard for sliding said sleeve along' said standard for raising and lowering the other end of said arm.

5. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 4 in which said last-mentioned means includes a crank at the end of said standard at which said arm is pivoted, a screw within said standard and attached to said crank and said sleeve, and a one-way brake at the upper end of said screw.

6. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 4 in which said base includes two substantially parallel short sections in a certain plane, wheels attached to the ends of said short sections, and a longer third section connecting said short sections near one end of each of said short sections and positioned below the plane of said short sections, said standard being attached substantially at the center of one of said short sections.

7. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 4 in which said base includes two substantially parallel short sections in a certain plane and a third and longer section interconnecting said short sections in a lower plane, said standard being attached to one of said short sections at an angle to said planes.

8. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 5 in which said cantilever arm has a downwardly curved portion and a one-way brake is provided on said standard, said brake being effective only when said screw moves said sleeve to lower said arm and when said arm is stationary, the braking effect being in proportion to the weight on said arm. 7

9. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 8 in which a crossarm is pivoted to the end of said cantilever arm for movement in a single plane and a person-supporting sling is attached to the ends of said crossarm, said sling having thigh and back supporting portions and a separate neck supporting portion and is rotatable on a vertical axis.

10. A lifting and transporting device for incapacitated persons comprising a three-section base having two parallel short sections in a certain plane and a longer third section interconnecting said short sections adjacent one end of each of said short sections, a standard having one end attached to one of said sections substantially at the center thereof, a cantilever arm having one end pivoted adjacent the other end of said standard, an axially movable member within said standard, means surrounding said standard and connected to said movable member means having one end pivoted on said means and the other end pivoted on said cantilever arm, a crack at the upper end of said standard, and screw means within said standard adapted to be rotated by ,said crank for moving said movable member axially within said standard.

11. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 10 in which said standard is at a diverging angle from the plane of said short sections of said base and the area enclosed thereby, said cantilever arm having its other end positioned over said base.

12. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 10in which said screw means includes a screw, said movable member being a sleeve on said screw movable axially along said screw, said first-mentioned means including a sleeve external of said standard and connected to said sleeve on said screw.

13. A lifting and transporting device in accordance with claim 12 in which a one-way brake is provided, said brakebeing on said standard and connected to said screw for braking the rotation of said screw in one direction only.

14. A lifting and transporting'device in accordance with claim 13 in which said longer third section of said base is lower than the plane of said short sections of I said base.

15. A base fora lifting and transporting device for incapicitated persons and having a supporting standard attached thereto comprising a plurality of interconnected sections, two of said sections being substantially parallel and spaced'apart in a certain plane, and a longer section 1y parallel, a long sectioninterconnecting said short sec- 20 tions and having a portion in a plane below the plane of said short sections, a standard having the lower end attached to one of said sections, a cantilever arm having one end attached to said standard, screw means for raising and lowering said arm, a crank for operating said screw, and a one-way brake for said screw for braking the rotation of said screw only when said arm is being lowered or is stationary.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,876,832 Bancroft Sept. 13, 1932 2,539,346 Feist Jan. 23, 1951 2,666,212 Flanders Jan. 19, 1954 2,908,916 Fischer et al Oct. 20, 1959 2,962,730 Carnes et al. Dec. 6, 1960 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 835,102 I Great Britain May 18, 1960 

1. LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS FOR INCAPACITATED PERSONS COMPRISING A THREE-SECTION BASE, A SINGLE STANDARD RISING FROM ONE SECTION OF SAID BASE, A CANTILEVER ARM MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD AND ADAPTED TO HAVE A SLING ATTACHED TO THE OTHER END THEREOF, MEANS CONNECTING SAID ARM AND SAID STANDARD FOR RAISING AND BRACING SAID ARM, AND MEANS WITHIN SAID STANDARD FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS AND SAID SLING. 